Tymell Murphy prepares for the NBA

It’s all fun and games when summer comes around but for one Brooklyn native living in the magic city, there’s no time for breaks.

For Tymell Murphy, a former standout on the FIU men’s basketball team, the voyage to the NBA is a long and bumpy one.

“I can’t lie it’s tough. I’ve been doing three workouts a day, I’ve been trying to change my eating habits,” said Murphy. “You know there’s so much that goes in with trying to be a professional player on any level. Any level after college it’s so important on your preparation, your routine and the things you do, you r mindset going into these workouts and what you do in a days work.”

Murphy has since spent his time in his new home away from home. The U.S Century Bank Arena has become a training facility as one young man prepares to embark on a new chapter in his life.

FIU is no stranger to sending players to the next level. Former stars Carlos Arroyo and Raja Bell were once in Murphy’s shoes, men trying to make a name for themselves in a lesser-known basketball school, and Murphy plans on simply following in their footsteps.

“It puts me in a whole other perspective and it’s kinda funny, I don’t wanna sound like…I just wanna be like that so bad,” said Murphy. “I want that so bad for myself and just to be a part of that crew. Those two guys coming from [FIU] and not having the reputation of being a big school, a big basketball school. That only means one thing, that their hard work got them where they were in the NBA, so hopefully I could be on somebody’s wall with an NBA jersey on.”

If selected, Murphy will be just the third FIU basketball player to make it in the NBA.

Murphy understands the trials and tribulations that will come with trying to achieve his dream but is taking it all in stride

“It’s always gonna be hard no matter where you’re coming from or where you’re going but sometimes it does help being from those big schools and sometimes you just gotta work a little harder coming from a school like FIU. I really can’t complain, I just gotta keep working hard and if you can play, you can play. I believe that talent is talent and if you’re talented and if you do what you do well and teams are interested in you, they’ll find you.”

When not on the court, Murphy simply spends time with his special lady. The one whose helped him get to where he’s been and whom he hopes to continue to spend time with at the next level.

“Everything I do is for her,” said Murphy of his mother. “When I was playing these games, I would call her and let her know every game, every stat, if I play good or play bad, she would give me a little coaching and tell me to pick it up. She’s my rock, she’s my first lady so it was pretty emotional and it’s even emotional talking about it now because she’s not here with me right now but just the fact that her son is out here chasing his dream, it’s a proud thing for her. It’s also an emotional thing for me not being able to see her everyday.”

As he looks back on what’s he’s accomplished, all he can do is smile.